FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
AUGUST 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS FOR PRODUCING AND SELLING FALSE IDENTITY DOCUMENTS
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Osver Matias, age 21, of Marydel, Maryland today to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for identity document fraud, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Blake also ordered that Matias cooperate with immigration authorities and that he forfeit two laptop computers; three cellular telephones; two laminators; two cameras; two printer/scanners; one printer; and $671 cash seized during the search of his residence.
According to his guilty plea, Matias is a citizen of Guatemala who entered the United States illegally in September 2006. He began producing false social security cards, resident alien cards, foreign driver’s licenses and Texas identification cards, and then sold the false documents to illegal aliens for cash. In February 2007, he sold false resident alien cards and social security cards to three confidential informants. In March 2007, agents searched his residence and seized 84 templates for social security cards, 34 templates for resident alien cards, laptop computers, laminators, cameras, and printer/scanners used to produce false identity documents.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for its investigative work, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who prosecuted the case.